Sergei Ivanov has won the ninth stage of the Tour de France from Pontarlier to Aix-le-Bains, while Stuart O'Grady has held on to the yellow jersey. Ivanov held off Brad McGee and David Etxeberria after the trio had made an ambitious break just 36km into the 185km stage. Erik Zabel led home the peloton, closely followed by O'Grady who still tops both the general and the sprint classification. American race favourite Lance Armstrong and 1997 winner Jan Ullrich of Germany also finished in the main bunch.
O'Grady has lead the tour for seven out of ten stages so far, but faces a tough task to hold on to the yellow as the Tour reaches the Alps tomorrow. The Tour Down Under winner will have to fight off the challenge of established climbers, as well as race favourites Lance Armstrong and Jan Ullrich. "It's going to be hard. I don't know whether I'll have the jersey tomorrow," said the 27-year-old Australian.
Filed by Greg McKevitt
